Richard Franklin Sivel Jr.

Sunday

Richard Franklin Sivel Jr. left this world on the night of Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, to explore his final frontier. His unexpected passing was caused by cardiac arrest around 10 p.m.

Rich is remembered in many ways; as an endlessly loving father, son, brother, partner, and most recently, grandfather. For friends and loved ones, the word 'no' was not in his vocabulary. He was always prepared to lend a hand, a sympathetic ear, or to make others feel welcome in his home. He was out tireless researcher and information junkie. No interest of a friend, family member or acquaintance ever went unexplored; he connected with others through his intellectual curiosity. His family especially remembers his gracious generosity and felt that he was taking care of us, right up to his last days.

Friends and colleagues will also remember Rich as a passionate and fiercely political man. He was a peaceful warrior who never stopped working for justice and a fair chance for everyone. He applied his talents as a natural organizer, social networker, and technologist to his work with Connecticut Citizen Action Group, West Hartford Citizens for Peace and Justice, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and others.

In recent years, he was proud to use the skills and experience learned from years in business in the service of Connecticut's working families in his position as Online Mobilization Coordinator at the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 4 in New Britain.

In his last years, he sought a greater understanding of himself and his family history through intensive genealogy research.

He is survived by his mother, Doris Sivel; siblings, Gwen Sivel, Roberta Kim, and Jim Sivel; his children, Kathryn and Jonathan Sivel; niece and nephew, Sara and Thomas Kim; and granddaughter, Frances Esperanza Vasquez Sivel. He will also be missed by his partner, Eleni Rodis and his dear friend and mother of his children, Palma Vaccaro.

We will miss Rich dearly. Our world will never be the same without him.

'May God bless and keep you always.' - Bob Dylan, 'Forever Young.'

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29 at Hartford Monthly Meeting of Friends, 144 S. Quaker Lane, West Hartford, Conn.

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